By IANS,
Lucknow : Power generation in energy-starved Uttar Pradesh could see its electricity generation going down by a further 800 MW to 1,000 MW daily on account of poor quality of coal, officials say.
Irked over the quality of coal, the state-owned power generation firm Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpandan Nigam has lodged a protest with the three main suppliers of the feedstock — Bharat Coking Coal, Northern Coalfields and Central Coalfields — the officials said.
“The coal companies have been asked in writing to look into the poor quality of coal,” said the company’s technical director R.K. Agarwal.
“We have sent teams of engineers to meet officials of the coal companies,” Agarwal told IANS.
The coal being supplied contains large amount of stones and mud that bring down power generation by 800-1,000 MW daily, he added.
Panki, Harduaganj and Parichcha powerhouses get coal from Bharat Coking Coal and Central Coalfields, while Obra and Anpara get their supplies from Northern Coalfields.
The decline in power generation has hit several districts including Kanpur, Rae Bareli and Mathura.
According to officials, there is a requirement of about 9,000 MW in the state during peak hours but that the government is able to provide only 7,700 MW.